Daniel Johnston

The legendary artist and musician as seen through the most comprehensive collection of his drawings ever published.

A significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative scenes, Daniel Johnston inspired musicians and listeners for decades. From his origins in the Austin scene in the mid-1980s, where he performed at local venues while working at McDonald’s, to his appearance on MTV and championing by Kurt Cobain, to eventual world fame, Johnston’s singular compositions and raw lyrics earned him lifelong fans.

Predating his interest in music and continuing alongside it, art was Johnston’s longest-running passion. This publication presents drawings spanning four decades of Johnston’s production, including many rare and previously unseen pieces. The artist’s brightly colored illustrations, incorporating figures from pop culture, devils, and heroes, blended with his own original characters, range from his iconic “Jeremiah the Innocent Frog” to surrealist landscapes. With the support of Johnston’s family and estate, the first comprehensive project since his passing includes remembrances from his brother, musicians, and artists, and benefits the Hi, How Are You Project.

Author Biography

Lee Foster is general manager and co-owner of Electric Lady Studios, the legendary recording studio in Greenwich Village commissioned by Jimi Hendrix. Dick Johnston is Daniel Johnston’s older brother, former manager, and a director of the Hi, How Are You Project. Robin K. Williams is former curator of the Contemporary Austin.